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CHAP should scourge him, and put him to death, and that he should rise again.

III.

Mark ix.

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14. But they did not understand him, although his words were as plain as words could be. And what was the reason? Did they not know who the Gentiles were? Had they never known of any who were put to death? Had they not been informed of numbers who had been raised from the dead before? Had they not with their own eyes seen Lazarus raised from the dead? Did they not know what it was to be spitefully entreated, to be mocked, and scourged? Did they not know what it was for one man to spit upon another?

15. They were undoubtedly men of common sense, and knew as well as other natural men what these things naturally signified. But as to the true spiritual meaning, they were at a loss. The thing was hid from them; they questioned among themselves what the rising from the dead should mean. Nay more, they understood none of these thingsneither knew they the things that were spoken.

16. Then if the disciples themselves, from the living testimony of the Spirit, could not understand this rising from the dead, nor any of these things when they were so near, how should natural men understand them from the letter, at so great a distance? Nay, it cannot be, any more than they can span the heavens, or find out the bounds of a never ending eternity.

17. But after the Holy Ghost was given to the apostles, then indeed, what they knew, they knew in reality and truth, although they knew but in part; for they still prophesied of things to come, having not received the fulness. Hence said the apostle Paul, 1 Cor.si. We know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

9, 10.

Pet. iii. 20, 12.

18. The apostles still spake of the coming of Christ, as future; and of their looking for, and hastening unto the coming of that day, in which the heavens being on fire, should be dissolved, and the elements melt with fervent heat, and when the earth and the works thereof should be burnt up.

ill.

19. In the same prophetic manner they testified CHAP. that the Lord Jesus should descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with 1 Thess. the trump of God-that the dead in Christ should iv. 16, 17. rise first; and that those who were alive and remain

ed, should be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.

20. Here the same figures are still continued to describe his coming, that had been used by the Jewish prophets, although they had testified that he had come, and they had seen him after he had finished the work that was given him to do.

21. But in all that they had testified, how they had seen, and learned, and heard, and known, what was there that could open the matter, in its true light, to the natural man? Christ told them that he came to bring fire on earth; but who ever saw any material fire in the case?

22. What changes in the material world were visible to the natural eyes? What blood or fire or pillars of smoke had they to show? They saw in part, but what had they to show to others? what part of a new heaven or a new earth? what other sun was in part risen? or what new stars created? or what natural body was in part risen, so that the natural eyes of man could behold a kind of first fruits of them that slept ?

23. They neither had, nor pretended to have any thing of the kind to show. The same earth, air, fire, and water, continued just as they had been from the beginning; no burning, nor drowning, nor sweeping away by windy hurricanes, or any thing of the kind.

24. But after bringing certain strange things to the ears of mankind, concerning one Jesus, who was dead, and whom they affirmed to be alive, their writings were enlarged upon the same prophetic subject, and in the same prophetic language they predicted the great day of the Lord yet to come.

25. Then from what has been said, it may appear evident, that neither the time, place, nor manner of Christ's coming can possibly be known or understood by any, until it is declared by the event itself, and that even then, it cannot be really and truly known

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III.

CHAP. and declared, but by and through those who have received the same Spirit, which first foretold the event, and are in the very light and work of the day.

Job xxviii

7, 8.

20, 21, & 1 Cor. i.

24, 30.

34, 42.

26. For there is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed it. And that path which no fowl knoweth, cannot be in the natural heavens; therefore, the way of Christ's coming cannot be through the natural heavens ; neither can it be from the desert, the paths of which have not eluded the feet of the lion.

27. Whence then cometh true wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. The same path is equally hid from the carnally wise and cruel. No philosopher hath discovered it; nor bloody tyrant trodden it. It remains unknown to those eager pursuers of natural wisdom and human power, of whom the fowls of the air, and the lions of the desert, are but a figure.

28. In vain then is the path of wisdom, or the way of Christ sought for, until he himself declares it: and to this purpose his own words stand recorded. John viii. I know whence I came, and whither I go. But ye cannot tell whence I come, or whither I go-I proceedMatt. xi. ed and came forth from God.-No man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

27.

29. Is then Christ revealed in the atmosphere, to the birds of the air? Is he revealed in the secret chambers? or is he revealed in the desert, to the beasts of the forest? Nay, in no wise.

30. He therefore, that would learn and know whence Christ cometh, and where he is revealed, let him seek for him where he is to be found, and where he has promised to set up his tabernacle, and to establish his throne and abide forever.

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THE

IV.

HIE Church of Christ is composed of such as CHAP. are called and chosen of God out of the spirit and practice of the world. And in obedience to that call, they are separated from all the rest of mankind, and united in one body, constituted a holy and peculiar people, actuated by one holy spirit, and are devoted to the cause of truth and virtue.

2. The Church of Christ is called the kingdom of heaven, because it is under the government of heaven, and is a state, habitation, or society, necessary to prepare mankind for the happiness of heaven itself; and such is that line of order and disposition of things in the spiritual world, extending from the source of true happiness, to this world, that no soul can enter heaven, but through that kingdom, or Church of Christ.

3. Hence the Church is called the light of the Matt. v. world, inasmuch as the men of the world can receive 13, 14. no true saving light, but in and through the Church. It is also the salt of the earth, as none upon earth can be saved but by the Church: It is therefore plainly, the saviour of the body.

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4. The Church is properly the house or habitation of God on earth, which signifies that God is not to be found any where else on earth. As it is written: Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst 1 Tim iü. of the children of Israel forever.-Great is the mystery of godliness: God manifested in the flesh.

5. The essential properties of the Church of Christ are Unity and Purity. The Church is one in faith and practice; one in doctrine, discipline, and government; and one in the mutual and equal enjoyment of all things both spiritual and temporal. And where this oneness doth not exist, there is neither

God may be seen in the order and works of his creation and providence; yet he can be found for the salvation and redemption of mankind, only where he has revealed himself for that purpose, and that is in his Church.

aini. 7.

16.

CHAP. fruit nor evidence of the true Church of Christ; for Christ is not, nor can he be divided.

IV.

Rev. xxi. 27.

6. The Church has but one faith, and that is the faith of Christ, the faith of the Son of God, which overcometh the nature and spirit of the world, enlightens the understanding, influences the will, and purifies the heart:It is one in doctrine, which is according to godliness, sound, pure, wholesome, and free from error; inasmuch as it makes no provision for the flesh or any evil, or any sin great or small, and leads only to the practice of true godliness, unspotted piety, and sound virtue.-There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth.

7. The Church has but one government, because all the members are governed and influenced by one Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, who is the head of the body, and the centre of influence to the memIsai lä. 8. bers.-They shall lift up their voices together-they shall see eye to eye-It is one in practice, which is righteousness and peace. Thy people also shall be all righteous-He that doeth righteousness is righteous. It is therefore by doing right, that the Church is righteous: And of the Church all must learn righteousness, who will be righteous. Let your light so shine before men.

i.id. chap. ix.

21.

1 John iil

7.

8. The Church is of one joint interest, as the children of one family, enjoying equal rights and privileges in things spiritual and temporal, because they are influenced and led by one Spirit, and love is the Acts only bond of their union.—All that believed were together, and had all things common-and were of one heart, and of one soul.

44. v. 32.

Gal. ii. 28.

9. And therefore, in the sense of an aspiring and selfish nature, there is neither Jew nor Greek, high nor low, rich nor poor, bond nor free, male nor female; for they are all one in Christ Jesus. But the Church claims no relation to that which is the most highly esteemed, as the common interest and principal, and common enjoyment to the children of this world; namely, to the works of the flesh.

10. In this respect the Church is perfectly united -they have one common cross, which is the cross of Christ Jesus-they crucify one root of evil, which

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